During the Middle Ages, medieval medicine and the church influence shaped how people understood and treated illnesses. The Catholic Church played a central role in healthcare, with monasteries serving as early hospitals and monks acting as physicians. This religious oversight meant that medical practices often combined prayer, herbal remedies, and spiritual beliefs.
Disease explanations in medieval England were largely based on the theory of four bodily humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. People believed that illnesses occurred when these humors became unbalanced. Common treatments included bloodletting, purging, and herbal medicines. Physicians would also look to the stars and planetary alignments to diagnose conditions, as they believed celestial bodies influenced human health. Poor hygiene and limited understanding of how diseases spread led to devastating epidemics, including the Black Death which killed millions across Europe.
Leprosy treatment in the middle ages was particularly harsh, reflecting both medical limitations and social fears. Those diagnosed with leprosy were forced to live in isolated colonies called leper houses or lazarettos, separated from their families and communities. They had to wear special clothing and ring bells to warn others of their approach. While some monasteries provided care for lepers, treatments were largely ineffective and focused on managing symptoms rather than curing the disease. Herbs, bloodletting, and various concoctions were used, but the most significant impact of medieval leprosy care was the development of the first organized healthcare systems, with designated facilities and caretakers for the sick. This laid the groundwork for modern hospitals and medical institutions, despite the limited scientific understanding of the time.
